Public Policy &
Economic Development

Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation

The firm served as a strategic advisor to the Brooklyn Bridge Park
Development Corporation (BBPDC). HR&A worked with the BBPDC to
translate its vision into critical policy and strategic
decisions. We procured and managed the BBPDC’s team of master
planners, counsel, and other consultants, and managed stakeholder outreach
to the project’s numerous constituencies, including local, city,
and state officials and diverse interest groups. As part of its role
as manager of the pre-development process on behalf of the board, HR&A
also created a funding plan so that the park's operating costs are
sustained by whatever commercial development is located on the site.

The City of Los Angeles

For the City Administrative Officer, HR&A prepared an analysis
of the public service cost impacts on the City of Los Angeles if proposals
for the San Fernando Valley and the Hollywood area were to secede from
Los Angeles. HR&A’s analysis included a review of workload
indicators and actual expenditures in 38 city departments and other
operating units, review and commentary on service cost estimates prepared
previously by city staff, and by others for the Los Angeles County
Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO); and public testimony comparing
the HR&A analyses with the other estimates before the Los Angeles
City Council and LAFCO. The proposal was eventually defeated at the
polls.

Columbus, Ohio

For three years, HR&A has led the downtown development efforts
for the City of Columbus, Ohio as its development manager. HR&A
secured substantial funding from both public and private sectors for
a planned development of a $250 million mixed-use project. The area
is slated to include a riverfront park, an arts district, a baseball
stadium, and a redesign of the Lazarus building and the city’s
amphitheatre. HR&A raised $10 million from private industries and
secured an additional $10 million per year for ten years from the city.
HR&A maintained project schedules, obtained major financing, coordinated
efforts between the mayor’s office and the development team,
and was responsible for all public interface, including obtaining public
approvals.

EDGE

For the Oneida County EDGE, HR&A developed a regional economic
development plan, incorporating the area's major markets including
agriculture, national defense, and manufacturing. As part of a team
of consultants, HR&A was responsible for advancing the plan’s
implementation strategy including recommended finance, management and
marketing mechanisms.
In addition to performing technical tasks and analyses, HR&A supervised
the community
outreach process, conducted focus groups and convened a major regional
economic summit.

Fresh Kills Master Plan

HR&A serves as the community outreach, financial and stewardship
planning consultant on the master planning team led by Field Operations
for the 2,200-acre former landfill site in Staten Island known as Fresh
Kills. HR&A is leading the team’s comprehensive public outreach
process which includes the planning and facilitation of over 30 individual
interviews, four major community charrettes and three public meetings
throughout the master planning process. HR&A is developing financial
projections and budgets for the capital and operating costs of the
park’s development scenarios. HR&A is also developing stewardship
and
management models for the eventual operation of the park. The master
plan is scheduled to be completed in late 2005.

The Hollywood Economic Alliance

HR&A prepared an assessment of local industry business “clusters” and
assisted business owners in formulating policies and strategies to
assist in the retention and expansion of area entertainment-related
businesses. HR&A guided commercial property and business owners
through the initial stages of forming a Media District Business Improvement
District (BID)
in order to retain the film and television post-production industry
in the southwest section
of Hollywood. HR&A conducted research and analysis to assist the
group’s leadership in determining the appropriate boundaries
for a BID and a potential service package. The firm then produced and
facilitated a well-attended half-day public workshop for business and
property owners, community service organizations and political leaders
to discuss the relative merits of a BID and the services it could sponsor.
The BID was later established under the City of Los Angeles BID regulations.

New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority — Loan

HR&A developed the New York Energy $martSM Loan Fund, which provides
reduced-interest loans to customers of New York State utility companies
for energy efficient and renewable improvements. As the lead consultant
on this project, HR&A held focus groups with lenders throughout
New York State to test the market feasibility of the Loan Fund, developed
program guidelines, policy and procedures manuals, and simplified application
forms for borrowers and lenders. After completing the program design,
HR&A managed outreach and marketing of the Loan Fund among lenders,
borrowers, and contractors in order to commit the $10 million in funds
available for this program. The New York Energy $martSM Loan Fund has
been commended by the U.S. Department of Energy as an outstanding example
of a state-sponsored energy efficiency program.

Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)

For the Real Estate Board of New York, HR&A was retained to provide
recommendations
for alternatives to the current tax assessment practices of the City
of New York. These alternatives responded to concerns about the integrity
of a system that raises a substantial sum each year, representing a
large percentage of the city’s general fund. HR&A conducted
comparative analysis of tax assessment practices in other cities, as
well as an in-depth review of the city’s own property tax assessment
process. The resulting recommendations ensured that the improved property
tax assessment system would treat property owners and their tenants
with timely, fair and reasonable valuations.